BACOLOD City — In celebration of Cinco de Noviembre, also known as Negros Day, November 5 is observed as a special non-working holiday across Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City.
Declared under Republic Act (RA) 6709, the holiday commemorates the Negros Revolution against Spanish rule, marking its 126th year this 2024.
Local governments across the province are hosting various activities for the annual event.
In Bago City, several barangays will join the 26th staging of the “Sigabong sang mga Kanyon,” a traditional reenactment featuring a parade of cannons along main streets leading to Bantayan Park. This event has become a mainstay in Bago’s Cinco de Noviembre celebrations.
Adding to the festivities is the 13th Bago City Invitational Fancy Drill Competition, with seven schools from around Negros Occidental competing for the top honor.
The drill competition is a notable attraction, showcasing precision and skill from local students.
On November 5, 1898, local revolutionaries staged a bloodless revolt against Spanish colonial rule. It showcased a clever strategy by Negrosanons, particularly those from Silay and Bago, who used ingenuity and limited resources to win their freedom.
On that day, the revolutionaries, led by prominent figures such as General Juan Araneta and General Aniceto Lacson, coordinated an uprising across the province. They crafted fake cannons from bamboo and painted makeshift rifles out of nipa palm stems, creating the illusion of a well-armed force.
The Spanish forces, fooled into believing they were outmatched, surrendered without a single shot fired, effectively freeing Negros from colonial rule./PN
